That is consistent with what I've experienced at JFK airport last month. They gave us the $800/pp exemption, the first $1000 was at 3%, then 9% on all leather goods. I read on here it was at 6%, but doesn't seem like the case anymore. One good thing was I gave him the amount in Euros but the agent didn't convert into USD before doing his calculations..which was a good thing because Euros were so high when i went.
US Customs discussion - airports, importing
- Thread starter esyee
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I flew back through Chicago O’Hare on a recent return flight from Paris. Our plane probably held 250 people and of that group only 2 of us had items to declare. I find it hard to believe that no one else purchased items in excess of the duty -free amount 
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After a less than pleasant experience in Detroit earlier this year, I am always a little nervous going through customs even through I declare. Luckily, I had no reason to worry as I had two really nice Customs guys. They didn’t make me feel uncomfortable (like Detroit) and didn’t make me feel guilty for spending so much (like Detroit).
I did have to laugh though because they were surprised when I told them the amount to declare and asked to see my things. It wasn’t because they wanted to officially check my things, but because they were personally curious what I had purchased that could have cost so much.
As I was declaring I did notice there were two people who had been pulled over and were having their luggage opened and everything in the luggage checked . I am not sure why these two were being checked, but I did ask the Customs agents if they thought most people were honest in their declarations. They said they often catch people under-declaring. I was very curious about that — specifically how they catch people —but I didn’t want to seem like I was trying to get information to help evade duty.
They did cut me a break on the percentgage of duty charged — 5% versus 9%. I was very happy because I usually get “by the book” agents.
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.After a less than pleasant experience in Detroit earlier this year, I am always a little nervous going through customs even through I declare. Luckily, I had no reason to worry as I had two really nice Customs guys. They didn’t make me feel uncomfortable (like Detroit) and didn’t make me feel guilty for spending so much (like Detroit).
I did have to laugh though because they were surprised when I told them the amount to declare and asked to see my things. It wasn’t because they wanted to officially check my things, but because they were personally curious what I had purchased that could have cost so much.
As I was declaring I did notice there were two people who had been pulled over and were having their luggage opened and everything in the luggage checked . I am not sure why these two were being checked, but I did ask the Customs agents if they thought most people were honest in their declarations. They said they often catch people under-declaring. I was very curious about that — specifically how they catch people —but I didn’t want to seem like I was trying to get information to help evade duty.
They did cut me a break on the percentgage of duty charged — 5% versus 9%. I was very happy because I usually get “by the book” agents.
,
just curious, do you always have to declare? my friend bought designer stuff well over $800 from france but didn't pay anything on them from what i heard. don't they check your bags? wouldn't you be on their "check list" every time you traveled if you were caught not declaring items?
Has anyone brought back a b/k (or 10 000USD+ bag) from Japan into the US? How did you handle customs, or what did they charge you for tax/duty upon entry?
I have read it is about 7-20% into the US but I only have experience with Canada, which was about 33% import on total cost for me.
I have read it is about 7-20% into the US but I only have experience with Canada, which was about 33% import on total cost for me.
Yes, if you bought things, you have to declare them at the airport where you enter the US. I have declared over $1000 returning from Europe and have been simply waved through. But if they do ask to inspect your bags and you have under-declared, you can have an issue not just on this trip, but on subsequent ones, too. IMO it is not worth the risk. Part of their enforcement is the fact that they do different things, so one can never count on anything.
Going by the books for leather goods into the US follows this duty structure:
First $800 is exempted
The next $1,000 is billed at 3%
The remainder billed at 9%
I flew back through Chicago O’Hare on a recent return flight from Paris. Our plane probably held 250 people and of that group only 2 of us had items to declare. I find it hard to believe that no one else purchased items in excess of the duty -free amount
After a less than pleasant experience in Detroit earlier this year, I am always a little nervous going through customs even through I declare. Luckily, I had no reason to worry as I had two really nice Customs guys. They didn’t make me feel uncomfortable (like Detroit) and didn’t make me feel guilty for spending so much (like Detroit).
I did have to laugh though because they were surprised when I told them the amount to declare and asked to see my things. It wasn’t because they wanted to officially check my things, but because they were personally curious what I had purchased that could have cost so much.
As I was declaring I did notice there were two people who had been pulled over and were having their luggage opened and everything in the luggage checked . I am not sure why these two were being checked, but I did ask the Customs agents if they thought most people were honest in their declarations. They said they often catch people under-declaring. I was very curious about that — specifically how they catch people —but I didn’t want to seem like I was trying to get information to help evade duty.
They did cut me a break on the percentgage of duty charged — 5% versus 9%. I was very happy because I usually get “by the book” agents.
,
Thanks for sharing your experience. Glad it was only 5%.
I had that same thought on my last trip...777 from CDG full of people...probably half the plane went shopping but develop amnesia once they go through immigration.
I think they do random checks, possibly based on itinerary. Once I did not declare (didnt have anything over the amount) on a flight back from Asia and they flagged me for a secondary inspection. I only had a carry on bag and a personal item. The inspector said "is that all of your luggage?" and I said "yes" and he started laughing and waived me through.
Does anyone have experience bringing an exotic purchased at FSH through US customs? What is the duty rate?
An exotic bag or other item? I have never purchased an exotic bag, only bracelet and when I declared everything I was waived through by the agent at JFK and I did not have to pay. For bags, I have read on this forum 5 percent for exotics which seems low, I think they are allowed to charge more. I have also read on the forum that for bags and other high cost items, US customs and French customs communicate. Not sure exactly how to search for those stories but there are at least a couple. Good luck and hope you get a good rate!
Passed JFK right after Thanksgiving. I was prepared to meet my usual "list out everything and follow all steps" officer (for those who remember my story pages before) but he wasn't there. Not only that, the officer who stamps the passports collected the printout from self kiosk, not the guys who stand by right after baggage. So I got my passport stamped and walked out right away without any hold up. I only bought a rodeo and a coin purse so no duty needed. Still, one could've bought lot more and just walk past with how they were working at the time. I thought it was a bit odd. And actually a bit annoyed how they stopped asking to see my stuffs when I was all ready to say "I only got two things this time. Are you happy?"
Passed LAX couple weeks ago. Got printout from the kiosk and walked down to see the officer who asked if I bought anything. I replied "$600." The last set of officers after baggage started to ask how long I was away, etc and but then suddenly changed the tone and didn't care about anything anymore as soon as he realized I'm from US.
Passed LAX couple weeks ago. Got printout from the kiosk and walked down to see the officer who asked if I bought anything. I replied "$600." The last set of officers after baggage started to ask how long I was away, etc and but then suddenly changed the tone and didn't care about anything anymore as soon as he realized I'm from US.
I have entered the US from Paris through several different US airports — Philadelphia, Detroit, JFK, Charlotte , and Chicago— and have found a general inconsistency in how the US Customs process was enforced.
I already posted a bit about my experience at Chicago at the end of 2017, but here is a bit more. I declared leather, ostrich, and alligator and they were treated exactly the same by the Customs agent . I showed him the items, so I know it was clear what they were. However, he did not distinguish between them for the duty calculation and did not ask to see the alligator Cites (ostrich does not need one). He initially charged me 9% on everything (after the $800 exemption and $1,000 taxed at 3%), but at the end brought the duty down to a flat 5%.
In Chicago I stood at a podium while the agent did a calculation by hand on a piece of paper and then walked me to the cashier. The friends I was with in Paris flew back through JFK, and experienced a different process at JFK (and it was different from their prior entries through JFK) . When they declared they were taken to an office and all the pertinent information and calculations were done on a computer .
I have always thought it was unlikely that US and French customs could communicate, but there seem to be more and more of those stories out there . My VCA SA recently told me that 3 different unrelated clients of hers had been caught not declaring jewelry from Paris when they entered the US— 2 at the airport, 1 after she had returned home. I asked my SA how her clients thought they were caught and she said they told her that the info from the scanning of receipts for detaxe was shared . Please note that I don’t know these people and heard all this second-hand, so I don’t know if it is absolutely true. But as I said, there seem to be more and more of these stories popping up.
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I just passed through customs in Dallas, coming back from South America. I declared over $800 worth of goods purchased, but there was no place to put a higher dollar amount. My husband and I were ready to tell the agents how much we spent on my bag and a few smaller items but we were just waived through. Pleasantly surprised but I do see how it can be different everywhere and also by agent and many other factors.
I used to be a customs officer a long time ago and even back then intel was shared. We would routinely snag people this way and boy the punishment is harsh. So you can assume that intel is shared today among countries.